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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Engineering : Postgrad (School of Engineering)

Postgraduate Course: Finite Element Analysis (MSc) (PGEE11272)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Engineering CollegeCollege of Science and Engineering
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits10 ECTS Credits5
SummaryThis course introduces finite-element analysis (FEA), that is the use of software implementing the finite-element method (FEM) to solve engineering problems.
Course description The course covers the following topics:
- Stages of a finite-element analysis
- Analysis types
- Preprocessing (geometry, boundary conditions, loads)
- Preprocessing (meshing and element choice)
- Solving
- Postprocessing and presenting results
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: The Finite Element Method (MSc) (PGEE10043)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Students MUST NOT also be taking Finite Element Analysis (CIVE11058)
Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesFinite-Element Method
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 10, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 68 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework 100%
Feedback Feedback on coursework at the student's request (in class or through discussion board), feedback on submitted coursework
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Describe the steps involved in finite-element analysis;
  2. Use FEM for solving simple steady and transient field problems using a standard software package;
  3. Use FEM to produce a reliable prediction of displacements and stresses in solids and structures of relevance to engineering practice using a standard software package;
  4. Make a critical assessment of FEM calculations.
Reading List
J. N. Reddy, An Introduction to the Finite Element Method, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill, 2005
O. C. Zienkiewicz and R. L. Taylor, The Finite Element Method Set, 7th ed., Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013.
K. J. Bathe, Finite Element Procedures, Prentice Hall, 1996.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsFinite-element method,finite-element analysis,computational modelling,computational mechanics
Contacts
Course organiserDr Stefanos Papanicolopulos
Tel: (0131 6)50 7214
Email: S.Papanicolopulos@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Tom Lawford-Groves
Tel: (0131 6)50 5687
Email: t.lawford-groves@ed.ac.uk
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